Pride For The People’s Statement Comes As Response to Boston Pride’s Decision to Dissolve the LGBTQIA+ Organization
Trans Resistance,
Urban Pride, the
Boston Black Pride, and
Boston Dyke March, have spent the past year pushing for a long-overdue transformation of Boston Pride. While we’ve been excited and encouraged by the wider community support for the boycott, our ultimate goal was to see the organization transition to new leadership that represents the diverse voices and needs of our community. Our demands were for transparency, community participation, and democratic decision-making. We see today’s statement by the Board as their final rejection of those demands.
After Months of Pressure, Boston Pride Disbands Organization Instead of Adding QTBIPOC and Allies’ Voices to the Board; [Story Still Unfolding]
BOSTON In a press release received late this evening, Boston Pride informed media outlets about their decision to dissolve the organization, according to the statement sent by its current Board of Directors.
“It is clear to us that our community needs and wants change without the involvement of Boston Pride,” read the release whose letterhead showed the names of its Board one last time, President Linda DeMarco, Treasurer Malcolm Carey, Clerk Martha Plaza, and members Deborah Drew and Tina Rosado. “We have heard the concerns of the QTBIPOC community and others. We care too much to stand in the way. Therefore, Boston Pride is dissolving. There will be no further events or programming planned, and the board is taking steps to close down the organization.”
BOSTON GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) joined in solidarity with Black trans leaders and former Boston Pride volunteers in calling for transformation at the Boston Pride organization.
“Pride is about protest, celebration, and community and should be a welcoming, safe space for all,” read GLAD’s statement. “Boston deserves a Pride in which Black and POC LGBTQ+ community members have a strong voice in leadership and which works to address the issues causing harm to our community, including systemic racism and police violence.
“Guided by our organizational values of justice and lived equality; inclusion, equity, and mutual respect; collaboration; and anti-racism, GLAD will not be participating in official Boston Pride, BP, events in 2021. In solidarity with Trans Resistance MA and Pride 4 the People, GLAD supports the Trans Resistance March and Vigil for Black Trans Lives taking place on June 12.”